The Best Methods of Bark Control

While some dog breeds are prone to barking due to a protective instinct, other dogs develop a barking habit from lack of attention or poor training. Using a strategy that fixes both the root cause of attention-seeking behaviors and the barking habit are the best methods to quiet your dog's barking.

  1. Can of coins

    • Use a homemade shaker, such as an empty can with a few coins, nuts or bolts inside. Shake the rattler as soon as your dog barks, point at the dog and tell it "No!" The shaker distracts the dog and serves as a stimulus that interrupts the dog's dominant behavior patterns.

    Bark Collars

    • Anti-bark collars come in two different designs. Some collars eliminate barking by alerting the dog when it barks while other collars, known as "diminishers," allow a dog to bark once or twice before correction. According to K9Web, the best collars are "triggered by throat vibration" as opposed to loud noises in the outside environment. Anti-bark collars have varying stimuli, including tone correction, electrical impulse and citronella sprays.

    Root Causes

    • Change attention-seeking behaviors by taking a pro-active stance in caring for your dog. Regularly exercise your dog and expose it to new stimulus, such as parks or nature trails. When guests arrive, put dogs in a room away from company. Speak softly to the dog and "shush" it, followed by gently prodding iton the side of its neck, similar to how wild dog packs correct each other.

    Situational Barking

    • Praise your dog when it barks for a good reason, such as a stranger walking up your driveway. Dogs also bark to chase animals in the yard, such as birds or squirrels. Allow your dog to bark once or twice to scare the animal away and then tell your dog to be quiet. Repeat this every time the dog barks to reinforce good vs. bad barking behaviors.